Thailand Destinations
Thailand splits naturally into six zones — the mountainous north, Bangkok and the historic central plains, Isan in the northeast, the eastern islands, and two very different coasts. Pick a pin on the map or browse by zone to compare all 25 destinations and the 7,560 rated places in our directory, then dive into any of them for hotels, food, temples, and things to do.
Tap a pin or a name on the map to preview a destination, or browse by zone below.
Northern Thailand3
Mountains, hill-tribe country, and Lanna temples — cooler weather, slower pace, and Thailand's best trekking.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai Province
Northern Thailand's cultural capital surrounded by mountains
Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai Province
Home to the White Temple, Golden Triangle, and hill tribe villages
Pai
Mae Hong Son Province
Laid-back mountain town beloved by backpackers and nature lovers
Bangkok & Central Plains4
The capital plus the ancient capitals — street food, royal palaces, WWII history, and the ruins of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, Thailand's first two kingdoms.
Sukhothai
Sukhothai Province
Thailand's first capital — UNESCO temple ruins, lotus ponds, and bicycle-pace history
Bangkok
Bangkok Province
The vibrant capital city with temples, street food, and nightlife
Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya Province
Ancient capital with magnificent temple ruins and Buddhist history
Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi Province
Historic WWII sites, waterfalls, and jungle adventures
Gulf Coast5
The east-facing coast and islands — Koh Samui's palm beaches, Koh Phangan's Full Moon parties, Koh Tao's dive schools, Hua Hin's seafood, Pattaya's resorts. Best weather roughly February to September.
Pattaya
Chonburi Province
Vibrant coastal city with beaches, water parks, and buzzing nightlife
Hua Hin
Prachuap Khiri Khan Province
Royal resort town with beaches, golf, and fresh seafood
Koh Samui
Surat Thani Province
Tropical island paradise with palm-fringed beaches
Koh Phangan
Surat Thani Province
Full Moon Party island with a quiet soul — jungle coves, yoga shalas, and Bottle Beach
Koh Tao
Surat Thani Province
Thailand's dive-school island — cheap certifications, resident turtles, and Nang Yuan's sandbar
Isan (Northeast)5
Thailand's least-touristed quarter — Mekong river towns, Khmer temple ruins, Bronze Age sites, silk villages, and the food (som tam, larb, grilled chicken) the rest of the country lines up for.
Udon Thani
Udon Thani Province
Gateway to upper Isan — the Red Lotus Sea, Ban Chiang's Bronze Age site, and Mekong sunsets at Nong Khai
Khon Kaen
Khon Kaen Province
Isan's university city — silk villages, lakeside temples, and Thailand's best som tam
Korat
Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Isan's biggest city — gateway to Phimai's Khmer ruins, night markets, and Korat cat country
Buriram
Buriram Province
Football-mad Isan province crowned by Phanom Rung, a Khmer sanctuary on an extinct volcano
Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani Province
Thailand's sunrise city on the Mun River — Candle Festival artistry and Mekong border country
Eastern Gulf Islands2
The islands east of Pattaya toward Cambodia — Koh Samet is Bangkok's quick weekend escape, Koh Chang the jungle-backed archipelago gateway to Koh Mak and Koh Kood. Driest November to March, and Koh Samet through April.
Koh Samet
Rayong Province
Bangkok's closest island escape — powdery white sand, calm water, and famous beach fire shows
Koh Chang
Trat Province
Thailand's third-largest island — jungle interior, laid-back beaches, and the Koh Mak & Koh Kood archipelago
Andaman Coast6
Limestone karsts and clear water on the west coast — Phuket and Krabi anchor the middle, Khao Lak opens the Similans and Khao Sok, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta fill the bay, and Koh Lipe caps the far south. Driest December to April, with November the shoulder month.
Khao Lak
Phang Nga Province
Quiet resort coast north of Phuket — gateway to the Similan Islands and Khao Sok's jungle lake
Phuket
Phuket Province
Thailand's largest island with world-class beaches and resorts
Krabi
Krabi Province
Dramatic limestone cliffs, emerald waters, and secluded beaches
Phi Phi Islands
Krabi Province
The Andaman's postcard archipelago — Maya Bay, longtail coves, and viewpoint sunsets
Koh Lanta
Krabi Province
Long, laid-back Andaman island — west-coast sunsets, Old Town stilt houses, and easy family beaches
Koh Lipe
Satun Province
Thailand's southernmost island — powder-white beaches and the country's clearest snorkeling water
When to Go, at a Glance
Most of Thailand is at its best in the cool, dry months from November to February — but the Gulf Coast runs on its own calendar. For the full month-by-month picture, see our best time to visit guide and weather by month.
| Destination | Best months | Rainy season | Avg temps | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai | November – February | May – October | 16–37°C | High |
| Chiang Rai | November – February | May – October | 14–35°C | Moderate |
| Pai | November – February | May – October | 12–32°C | Moderate |
| Sukhothai | November – February | May – October | 20–36°C | Low |
| Bangkok | November – February | May – October | 25–34°C | Very High |
| Ayutthaya | November – February | May – October | 23–36°C | Moderate |
| Kanchanaburi | November – February | May – October | 20–38°C | Moderate |
| Pattaya | November – February | May – October | 24–33°C | High |
| Hua Hin | November – August | September – October (light showers May – August) | 23–33°C | Moderate |
| Koh Samui | January – September | October – December | 24–32°C | High |
| Koh Phangan | January – April | October – December | 25–32°C | High |
| Koh Tao | March – September (calmest water, best visibility) | October – December | 25–32°C | Moderate |
| Udon Thani | December – February (Red Lotus Sea blooms Dec–Feb) | May – October | 19–35°C | Low |
| Khon Kaen | November – February | May – October | 19–36°C | Low |
| Korat | November – February | May – October | 19–35°C | Low |
| Buriram | November – February | May – October | 19–35°C | Low |
| Ubon Ratchathani | November – February (plus July for the Candle Festival) | May – October | 19–35°C | Low |
| Koh Samet | November – April (driest island near Bangkok) | May – October (lighter than elsewhere) | 25–33°C | Moderate |
| Koh Chang | November – March | May – October | 24–32°C | Moderate |
| Khao Lak | November – April (Similan season Oct 15 – May 15) | May – October | 24–33°C | Moderate |
| Phuket | November – April | May – October | 24–33°C | Very High |
| Krabi | November – April | May – October | 24–33°C | High |
| Phi Phi Islands | November – April | May – October | 25–32°C | Very High |
| Koh Lanta | November – April | May – October | 24–33°C | Moderate |
| Koh Lipe | November – April | May – October | 25–32°C | Moderate |
Plan Your Trip
Thailand for First-Timers
What to know before your first trip — visas, money, etiquette, and a route that works.
7-Day Thailand Itinerary
A ready-made week covering Bangkok, the north, and a beach finish.
Best Time to Visit Thailand
Month-by-month weather, crowds, and prices for every coast.
Full Interactive Map
Every place in our directory on one zoomable map — filter by category.
Choosing Where to Go
Which Thailand destination is best for first-time visitors?
Start with Bangkok — nearly every international flight lands there, and three days covers the Grand Palace, the river, and the street food scene. Then pair it with one more zone: Chiang Mai for temples and mountains, or Phuket, Krabi, or Koh Samui for beaches. Trying to see both the north and the islands in under ten days usually means too much time in transit.
Can you combine Northern Thailand and the islands in one trip?
Yes, with ten days or more. The classic route is Bangkok (3 days), a flight north to Chiang Mai (3 days), then a flight south to the coast (4+ days). Domestic flights between Chiang Mai and the southern airports take about two hours, and booking the north-to-south leg as a flight rather than buses saves two full travel days.
Should I choose the Gulf Coast or the Andaman Coast?
Let the season decide. The Andaman side (Phuket, Krabi) is driest from December to April, with November the shoulder month, and gets rough seas from May to October. Koh Samui stays good from January to September and has its monsoon from October to December, while Hua Hin's short rainy season is September and October. Visiting in July or August? Pick the Gulf. December to March? Both work, and the Andaman is at its peak.
How do you get between Thailand destinations?
Domestic flights connect Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Samui in one to two hours and are usually the best value for long hops. Trains and buses cover the shorter routes. Ayutthaya is 50 to 80 minutes from Bangkok by train, Pattaya about two hours by bus and Hua Hin about three hours on the morning express train. Ferries link the islands.